Plans are underway to transform Gua Tambun, renowned for its ancient cave drawings, into an eco-tourism destination. The Mayor of Ipoh, Rumaizi Baharin, announced that the Ipoh City Council (MBI) is requesting an allocation of approximately RM300,000 from the Perak government to construct an improved road leading to the site. MBI has recently been entrusted with the management of the location and will now focus on developing it into an eco-tourism spot. Rumaizi stated that work is anticipated to commence by the end of this year with the initiation of road repairs. Once the roadworks are finished, the area will begin its development, as stated by Rumaizi at the city council’s full board meeting.
The cave’s prehistoric drawings are believed to date back to the Neolithic period, depicting various animals and humans, with the primary image thought to represent a dugong. Rumaizi acknowledged concerns of neglect surrounding the site and assured that now that they are in charge, it will be cared for. He emphasized the importance of Gua Tambun as a valuable historical site and expressed the council’s determination to deter acts of vandalism reported there. Moreover, Rumaizi revealed plans to transform the food court near Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreational Park into a tourist destination.
The food court, currently being renovated, is expected to commence operations in December. Rumaizi revealed that a study indicated a preference among individuals from Southeast Asian countries, particularly Indonesia and Singapore, to visit food courts. The mayor disclosed that the food court will accommodate around 50 traders, serving predominantly Malay cuisine through stalls and food trucks. He further informed that most of the traders currently operating near the recreational park have agreed to relocate to the new food court.
Furthermore, Rumaizi tabled the budget for MBI’s upcoming year during the meeting. An estimated RM33.5 million is allocated for the city’s development expenditure, encompassing maintenance and beautification projects, facility upgrades at public parks and council-owned buildings, flash flood mitigation initiatives, and development of locations for businesses and tourism. Additionally, RM226.5 million will be assigned to management expenditure and operational costs.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
